It sounds like you're in good hands with your TA. Give them a while to work the issue - I've noticed it takes quite a while for even the TAs to get a response from Karisma when working on special requests or issues. It's hard to be patient, especially when it's something as important as your wedding!

Depending on how many kiddos in your party, another option might be El Dorado Maroma, with the families using the Generations Maroma on the same property.

I'm crossing fingers that all of this works out for you!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linds1204

Hi Murmel Thanks so much for your response! My TA is currently trying to move us to a another Karisma resort, but we still haven't gotten a response from them and I am really worried. Our wedding date is 3/8/14, we are hosting private events from 3/6-3/8, so we would need at least 3 nights. We are in the US. Do you know any Canadian tour operators that we could reach out to? I really REALLY appreciate your help! Thanks! Linds

Hi Murmel Thanks so much for your response! My TA is currently trying to move us to a another Karisma resort, but we still haven't gotten a response from them and I am really worried. Our wedding date is 3/8/14, we are hosting private events from 3/6-3/8, so we would need at least 3 nights. We are in the US. Do you know any Canadian tour operators that we could reach out to? I really REALLY appreciate your help! Thanks! Linds

Okay, so first off....don't panic. Already finding rooms!!! So the main tour operator I know of, and have dealt with is Sunwing (Canadian company). Website: www.sunwing.ca You or your guests can just book the hotel room on this site, but would have to purchase the flight seperately. Or try telling your TA to get in touch with Sunwing to try and purchase rooms directly through them. (I know US travel agents who have previously bought/arranged rooms, so it's possible)

Just tested the dates you suggested March 6-9, 2014 and found rooms. Here's the link: http://shopping.sunw...98cde9940ed049f (but not sure if it will work) The room price was $650/person tax included for those 3 nights. Also tried a week, and there was availability. March 5-12 was showing $1570/person. Not sure how those prices compare for you, but at least there are rooms. (also not that there is much difference, but the prices are CDN dollars)

Another operator to try is: www.signaturevacations.com They are also showing the rooms March 6-9 for $650/person.

If you don't mind me asking, how much are they charging you for the birdcage and sand boxes. I wanted to have these but didn't want to bring them. I didn't know lomas had them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMK923

Hi Jess!

Same here, I was trying to bring less bulky items with me. The bird cage card holder is $30 (which is very close in price to others I've found) and the sandboxes are $20 each.

I didn't see these on Lomas' planning site, I just asked my WC. There are a few other items that aren't on the site but they were able to accommodate my requests. If there's something you are looking for I suggest just asking

Hey ladies! Congrats on your upcoming weddings! If there's anything you are looking for decor wise that is a little on the pricy side when getting rental quotes from your resort, such as mason jars, lighting, lanterns, burlap/lace tables runners, or birdcages, please send me a PM and perhaps I can rent you some of the things left over from our wedding. We were married in May in Tulum and live down here in Playa Del Carmen. Happy planning!

Are you interested in an affordable decor rental in the Mayan Riviera, Mexico? Send me a message! Most of the items I have are a rustic, vintage style.

I am starting to think about decorations-- what to bring, what to buy from lomas, etc.

We are having our reception at Plaza Zavaz. Did any of y'all bring Christmas lights to decorate the gazebo with? If so, how much of a set up fee did they charge you?

ps- Thanks for all the help with all of your posts. I've been reading them like crazy for the last few months and it has really helped me fight against "the fear of the unknown..."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jennypert

Hello,My wedding is June 6, 2014 so you are just a couple of weeks later. I still haven't heard from anyone on my exact date. I'm planning to bring Christmas lights and had planned to bring a lot of other items for decorations like chair sashes and other linens. I'm re-thinking that plan after reading the other comments. Maybe they are right since I've just started ordering stuff for OOT bags for 45-50 people.Welcome to AS Brides Forum.Jenny

Hey ladies! I have exposed bulb lighting and Christmas lights leftover from my wedding down here if you are interested in doing an affordable rental! I live in the area and am hoping to help some fellow brides avoid outrageous wedding prices. Some of the prices they quote you, you actually have to laugh at. So ridiculous!

If you rent from me uou can tell your WC you brought them yourself to avoid outside vendor fees. Send me a PM for more info if you'd like! Congrats on your upcoming weddings, and happy planning!

Here's a photo of our lights and paper lanterns that we used at our wedding, and are available for rent:

Are you interested in an affordable decor rental in the Mayan Riviera, Mexico? Send me a message! Most of the items I have are a rustic, vintage style.

Thanks for the words of encouragement about the DJ, I'm back to sleeping at night, lol.

So, how about these Sanboxes for the Escort Cards... I've been all over Pinterest, and I think they're the cutest... How big were the ones you were able to get through the resort? Silly, but did they include sand, lol? We have about 50 guests, so I figure 25-30 escort cards, is one box big enough for that many, or do I need several?

I actually don't know the measurements of the sandboxes, but my WC suggested 2 and that's what I have on my detail sheet. We'll also have about 50 guests. For couples, I plan on using one escort for both their names which will free up space. Sounds like you are doing something similar.

That is a REALLY good question about the sand! I just sent my WC an email to make sure it's included. I've learned from other brides on this thread that you need to be as specific as possible and list out every single thing you want on your detail sheet. For instance, I emailed my WC a few weeks ago about flower arrangements for our sweetheart table. It turns out, that she had to literally add a sweetheart table to my detail sheet! Otherwise, they may not have had one setup for us at the reception. I started freaking out thinking of all the other "common" things at weddings that you would think are included, but you may need to point those things out for a destination wedding. Thank you for bringing up the sand!! I'll let you when Lynda responds.

you should be fine with the sand! the resort put sand in our vases for us without even asking.

and don't worry - you will go over every bit of your detail sheet in your meeting with the onsite coordinator which is usually the day after your arrival. you'll also confirm the layout for your events (guest table placement, cake table placement, place cards, etc) and any other questions the onsite team has. if you need to add things or switch them around, they will help you do that during that meeting.

for example, I didn't realize until our onsite meeting that my spreadsheet had one of our entrees for the dinner/reception wrong - no problem. they fixed it, our Lomas coordinator calculated the difference in cost and we paid them onsite.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMK923

Hi Kaya!

Lol glad to help

I actually don't know the measurements of the sandboxes, but my WC suggested 2 and that's what I have on my detail sheet. We'll also have about 50 guests. For couples, I plan on using one escort for both their names which will free up space. Sounds like you are doing something similar.

That is a REALLY good question about the sand! I just sent my WC an email to make sure it's included. I've learned from other brides on this thread that you need to be as specific as possible and list out every single thing you want on your detail sheet. For instance, I emailed my WC a few weeks ago about flower arrangements for our sweetheart table. It turns out, that she had to literally add a sweetheart table to my detail sheet! Otherwise, they may not have had one setup for us at the reception. I started freaking out thinking of all the other "common" things at weddings that you would think are included, but you may need to point those things out for a destination wedding. Thank you for bringing up the sand!! I'll let you when Lynda responds.

Ha, my planner is Lynda as well! I guess I can ask her about those, and see if I can get a picture, lol.

I actually had the same thing happen with the sweatheart table, basically, anything you want, you have to ask for it. That being said, they are quite accommodating, you just have to think of what to bring up. I'm super OCD, so I find it hard to believe there is something I haven't brought up, but then I email with Lynda A LOT.

It's good to have the safety net of the on-site meeting, but my grand master plan is to have everything buttoned up before we leave. I need the few days before the wedding to:

Put a hard stop to thinking about the planning,

Clear my head of the idea of killing my fiance (inevitable part of planning, I'm afraid, lol),

Get myself into vacation mode (with the help of the pool bar, of course)

.... so I can actually enjoy the wedding and all the stuff we have planned around it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMK923

Hi Kaya!

Lol glad to help

I actually don't know the measurements of the sandboxes, but my WC suggested 2 and that's what I have on my detail sheet. We'll also have about 50 guests. For couples, I plan on using one escort for both their names which will free up space. Sounds like you are doing something similar.

That is a REALLY good question about the sand! I just sent my WC an email to make sure it's included. I've learned from other brides on this thread that you need to be as specific as possible and list out every single thing you want on your detail sheet. For instance, I emailed my WC a few weeks ago about flower arrangements for our sweetheart table. It turns out, that she had to literally add a sweetheart table to my detail sheet! Otherwise, they may not have had one setup for us at the reception. I started freaking out thinking of all the other "common" things at weddings that you would think are included, but you may need to point those things out for a destination wedding. Thank you for bringing up the sand!! I'll let you when Lynda responds.

Well my time has come and it is impossible to contain my excitement I joined this blog in Feb 2013 an was ecstatic to find it. I spent hours pouring over all the previous posts. It answered so many questions, calmed so many nerves, and let me know I was not alone when I felt some frustrations with planning a wedding so far away. For the most part I have been a silent lurker LOL with a random post here or there.

We fly out tomorrow and our wedding is on Monday .... I am a pre-planner and organizer to the extreme and with the help of this blog I am completely stress free and ready to go. My girlfriends keeps saying "Why are you not freaking out or being bridezilla now?" LOL nope I have spent the week having lunch or dinner with friends who can't make it to Mexico with us.

I truly can't thank each bride enough for the time they took to post and answer questions. I will definitely share pictures and give you all a review. It's the least I could do for all that this blog has done for me.

We did just learn that there is a wedding on Friday, Sat, and another one other than ours on Monday. Ours is at 5:00pm and the other is at 2:30pm at a different site. I looked through the roll call list and don't think they are on this blog